Houston Dynamo defender Adolfo Machado (3) carries forward Vicente Sanchez (10) to celebrate Sanchez's first goal of the night during the second half of the game at BBVA Compass Stadium Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017,

Erick Torres and the Dynamo had much to celebrate the last time the team and Real Salt Lake played - a 5-1 victory at BBVA Compass Stadium on May 31.

Erick Torres and the Dynamo had much to celebrate the last time the team and Real Salt Lake played - a 5-1 victory at BBVA Compass Stadium on May 31.

Photo: Yi-Chin Lee, Staff

Image 3 of 73

6/29/17: Houston Dynamo midfielder Juan Cabezas (5) celebrates forward Mauro Manotas (19) goal against the Portland Timbers in the first half in a MLS game at BBVA stadium in Houston, TX.

6/29/17: Houston Dynamo midfielder Juan Cabezas (5) celebrates forward Mauro Manotas (19) goal against the Portland Timbers in the first half in a MLS game at BBVA stadium in Houston, TX.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea/For The Chronicle

Image 4 of 73

6/29/17: Houston Dynamo forward Mauro Manotas (19) and midfielder Memo Rodriguez (18) celebrates midfielder Juan Cabezas (5) goal against the Portland Timbers in the second half in a MLS game at BBVA stadium in Houston, TX. The score ended in a 2 to 2 draw.

Houston Dynamo defender Leonardo (22) attempts a header during the first half of the first-round playoff MLS match against the Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Houston. (

Houston Dynamo defender Leonardo (22) attempts a header during the first half of the first-round playoff MLS match against the Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Houston. (

A Houston Dynamo fan makes a gesture to indicate that Sporting Kansas City defender Graham Zusi (8) dove instead of fould by Houston Dynamo players during the second half of the first-round playoff MLS match at

Houston Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera gives the ball to defender DaMarcus Beasley (7) from the sideline during the second half of the first-round playoff MLS match at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26,

A Houston Dynamo fan reacts to Referee Mark Geiger called a Houston Dynamo player foul on Sporting Kansas City defender Graham Zusi (8) during the second half of the first-round playoff MLS match at BBVA

Houston Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera talks to an assistant referee during the second half of the first-round playoff MLS match against the Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26,

Houston Dynamo players Alex (14) and DaMarcus Beasley (7) defense together to get the ball away from Sporting Kansas City defender Graham Zusi (8) during the second half of the first-round playoff MLS match at

Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra (21) reacts to receiving a yellow card for foul on Houston Dynamo forward Vicente Sanchez (10) during the second half of OT of the first-round playoff MLS match at

Houston Dynamo support group fans cheer for the team during the second half of OT of the first-round playoff MLS match against the Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Houston. The Houston Dynamo defeated the Sporting Kansas City 1-0. The Houston Dynamo defeated the against the Sporting Kansas City 1-0. ( Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle )

Houston Dynamo support group fans cheer for the team during the second half of OT of the first-round playoff MLS match against the Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in

Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric (1) makes a save during the end of the second half of OT of the first-round playoff MLS match against the Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Houston. The Houston Dynamo defeated the Sporting Kansas City 1-0. The Houston Dynamo defeated the against the Sporting Kansas City 1-0. ( Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle )

Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric (1) makes a save during the end of the second half of OT of the first-round playoff MLS match against the Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26,

Houston Texans' Whitney Mercilus waves at the audience after firing the canon during the opening ceremony of the first-round playoff MLS match between Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass

Houston Texans' Whitney Mercilus takes a video with his cellphone before the opening ceremony of the first-round playoff MLS match between Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium

Houston Texans' Whitney Mercilus greets the audience as he is about to fire the canon for the opening ceremony of the first-round playoff MLS match between Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Houston. ( Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle )

Houston Texans' Whitney Mercilus greets the audience as he is about to fire the canon for the opening ceremony of the first-round playoff MLS match between Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City at BBVA

Houston Dynamo forward Alberth Elis (17) tries to keep the ball in-boun during the first half of the first-round playoff MLS match against the Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26,

Houston Dynamo forward Alberth Elis (17) takes a shot at the goal and scores with an assist from Vicente Sanchez (10) during the first half of OT of the first-round playoff MLS match at BBVA Compass Stadium

Houston Dynamo forward Alberth Elis (17) takes a shot at the goal and scores with an assist from Vicente Sanchez (10) during the first half of OT of the first-round playoff MLS match at BBVA Compass Stadium

Sporting Kansas City forward Diego Rubio (11) reacts to his team did not score a goal attemp during the first half of the first-round playoff MLS match at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in

Houston Dynamo forward Erick Torres (9) and Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra (21) collide when Torres is trying to score a goal during the first half of the first-round playoff MLS match at BBVA

Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric (1) performs a goal kick during the first half of the first-round playoff MLS match against the Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in

Houston Dynamo stargting goalkeeper Tyler Deric during practice before taking on Sporting Kansas City at the first-round playoff MLS match at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Houston. It was the first time in the team is in playoffs since 2013. ( Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle )

Houston Dynamo stargting goalkeeper Tyler Deric during practice before taking on Sporting Kansas City at the first-round playoff MLS match at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Houston. It was the

Houston Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark (13) battles with Sporting Kansas City players Diego Rubio (11) and Gerso Fermandes (7) for control of the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer playoff game,

Houston Dynamo midfielder Alex (14) and Sporting Kansas City forward Gerso Fermandes (7) battle for possession of the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer playoff game, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017 in

Houston Dynamo defender Philippe Senderos (4) gets a long pass from defender Adolfo Machado (3) during the first half of an MLS soccer playoff game against Sporting Kansas City, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017 in

Houston Dynamo has painted the concourse with playoff logos before taking on Sporting Kansas City at the first-round playoff MLS match at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Houston. It was the first time in the team is in playoffs since 2013. ( Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle )

Houston Dynamo has painted the concourse with playoff logos before taking on Sporting Kansas City at the first-round playoff MLS match at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Houston. It was the

Noelia Flores, left, and Nesreen Alawami wear the orange crazy hair and Dynamo shirts to attend the the first-round playoff MLS match against the Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Houston. It was the first time in the team is in playoffs since 2013. ( Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle )

The Dynamo did not play in Saturday's MLS Cup final in Toronto, but coach Wilmer Cabrera was there.

Cabrera joined Univision's broadcast team pre- and post-game to analyze the match between Seattle Sounders FC and Toronto FC. While he was there, he got face to face with the championship trophy that ultimately was lifted by Toronto.

Immediately, Cabrera began to dream of future years when he may lift it himself.

"It was close. It was very close," Cabrera said. "I didn't touch it. I didn't kiss the Cup because I want to do it with my team. That's the dream. I am really hungry for that."

The Dynamo got close this year. They advanced to the Western Conference finals where they were eliminated by Seattle. It was their first playoff berth since 2013 and it came in Cabrera's first season.

With the positivity restored for the two-time MLS champion club, there is realistic hope for more success in 2018.

The difference next season is that the Dynamo no longer will surprise their opponents. The league will know their key players and the best ways to play against them. Returning the team to relevance was challenging. Keeping it there will be a different kind of challenge.

"Now we know we are no longer the underdog," Cabrera said. "Now they look at us with more respect. We need to confirm what we have done. We need to confirm every game what we have done throughout this season that it wasn't lucky. It was the project and the process we have been working on here every day."